SEENPM member organizations gathered around the regional project Our Media have selected the best local initiatives within a public call intended for non-governmental organizations working in the fields of media, freedom of expression, digital technologies, education, human rights, and gender equality. A total of 20 projects from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia were awarded, with a total fund of 255,000 euros.
The selected organizations have already begun working on their activities across the region, focusing on combating disinformation and strengthening media-related civic activism. Here is the final list of sub-grantees with brief information about their approved projects:
KOSOVO
Association of Kosovo Journalists and Roma in Action
Project: MediaMinds: Empowering the Elderly for Information Integrity
The project is initiated by the Association of Journalists of Kosovo and Roma in Action to address the challenge of disinformation and misinformation and lack of media literacy among elderly populations in Istog, Gjakova, Prishtina, Mitrovica, and Suhareke. Through tailored educational workshops, communication campaigns, and advocacy efforts, the project aims to equip elderly individuals with the skills to critically evaluate news and information sources, combat disinformation, and actively engage in promoting media literacy within their communities. By fostering partnerships with elderly care homes and leveraging innovative approaches to media activism, MediaMinds seeks to create a sustainable impact, empowering elderly population to navigate the digital media landscape confidently and contribute to a more informed and resilient society.
Center for Affirmative Social Activities-CASA and KIM Media Group
Project: Aequitas podcast
The Aequitas podcast continues its mission aimed at addressing the lack of open and diverse opportunities for public dialogue on issues affecting ethnic relations in Kosovo. Already established as a platform providing deep insights and analyses, the Aequitas podcast will continue its work by creating and promoting a media product under the same name. This podcast presents a video show with multiple discussions on a range of contemporary issues in Kosovo. The multifaceted discussion will be facilitated by an innovative strategy involving two hosts, journalists from Kosovo Albanian and Serbian communities. Their aim will be to engage in conversations with relevant guests to represent prevailing views and interests in their communities. In this way, the audience will have the opportunity to understand and confirm a range of opinions and interests on topics affecting ethnic relations in Kosovo, such as issues of missing persons, normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, EU integration, cultural heritage, and many others. The project will be implemented in partnership between the NGO CASA from North Mitrovica and the NGO KIM Media Group from Čaglavica, prominent actors in Kosovo’s social and media scene.
Organization for Democracy, Anti-corruption and Dignity – Cohu
Project: Fair, ethical and impartial information
Through this project, Cohu aims to expand the agenda of professional media reporting, by targeting young generations in 14 municipalities across Kosovo, and to offer them a comprehensive understanding on the media ethics, freedom of the media, information process and guidelines to avoid disinformation and fake news. Through the project, a wider public awareness campaign will be implemented through social networks, by publishing infographics that shall serve as a “tool” to quick comprehensive procedure that enables avoiding fake news and learning the journalism ethics, as well as instruments and tools to report the media writing that is not aligned with the current Code of Ethics for print media.
MONTENEGRO
Open Dialogue Network and Institute for Socio-Political Research – Analitico
Project: Enhancing the capacities of CSO actors in the field of media and information literacy
This project directly supports strengthening the capacities of NGOs and media professionals in the field of media activism, particularly in combating disinformation, information manipulation, and polarization. The project’s goals are to improve the level of media literacy in Montenegrin society and strengthen the capacities of CSO actors in identifying and combating disinformation. Key project activities include a capacity-building program, a social media campaign, informational briefings, and a panel discussion.
UL Info and Punta Institute
Project: Let’s read correctly!
The goal of the project is to improve the level of understanding and promotion of media literacy among national minority communities. The target groups of the project include women from the public and social sectors active at the local level, women’s and youth forums of political parties, youth from the Albanian national community, primary and secondary school students attending classes in the Albanian language, as well as NGOs operating within minority communities. The project outcomes include improved knowledge and understanding of media literacy among women and youth from the Albanian national community, and increased awareness of media literacy within local minority communities through lectures, training sessions, seminars, campaigns, podcasts, and research.
NGO “Ikre” and NGO “Mrav“
Project: Improving media literacy and media reporting on gender equality
The project focuses on improving the quality of media content and raising awareness about media literacy in rural communities in Rožaje. Through various training sessions, journalists, representatives of local NGOs, educators, and women from rural areas will gain the necessary knowledge and skills for quality journalism and effective use of online platforms. Special emphasis is placed on involving women from rural areas, providing them with the opportunity to empower themselves through media literacy, promote their products on online platforms, and contribute to their economic independence and raising awareness of gender equality.
The Media Association of Southeast Europe and Info Center Pljevlje
Project: Informing Youth in northern Montenegro
The project aims to enhance cyber and information literacy among youth in northern Montenegro as part of the fight against disinformation. The project will analyze how young people consume information, propose concrete solutions for media and non-governmental organizations to improve data dissemination, and educate young people on protecting themselves from disinformation. In collaboration with the PV portal, stories will be developed, and a public campaign will be conducted, targeting youth in the northern region. The project also includes training sessions for local media and non-governmental organizations, as well as engaging decision-makers at all levels to advocate for improved policies, legislation, and procedures.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Youth Press Association (ONAuBiH)
Project: (In)Visible Youth
The project aims to combat the marginalization of young voices in BiH’s media landscape by addressing sensationalism and providing specialized content for youth. Through activities such as specialized media campaigns, a handbook for effective communication with Gen Z populations, and a youth summer camp in Jajce, the project targets communities including Zavidovići, Konjic, Doboj Istok and region of Bosanski Petrovac and Mostar. Project aims to boost youth’s critical thinking and political involvement. By empowering youth to create youth-friendly content and engage in democratic processes, the project aims to promote democratic values, raise awareness of media freedoms, and encourage active citizenship, ultimately contributing to a more informed and engaged society in BiH. Content will be produced and disseminated through ONAuBiH’s media platforms, with a focus on the Youth magazine “Karike” and partner networks, aiming to reach 200,000 users through the involvement of about 200 young people in project activities.
Association of Citizens eTrafika
Project: It can be done differently!
Through journalism training, followed by several months of work under mentorship, eTrafika will train 10 young people from rural areas to write and take photos for online media. This project actually works on two fronts – it creates a new generation of socially responsible journalists and strengthens media literacy, and promotes positive examples of action in order to offer readers an alternative to all bad news, with the hope that they too will be motivated to participate more actively in their community. It is a project that eTrafika has been implementing for 12 years, in urban and rural areas. So far, more than 300 young people have gone through this training, and some of them have remained working in the media, even though they had no contact with them before the project.
Association for the Promotion and Improvement of Education Quality “Školegijum”
Project: Enhancing Media Literacy in Local Communities in BiH (Knowledge Quiz)
The project goal is to promote work of journalists, start a dialogue about it, and teach people more about the media in general. “Školegijum” will organize eight pub quizzes in eight cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, reaching various local communities. Every quiz will have four teams, five contestants each, who will participate in playing SKOKEJ, a simple but useful app. Questions in the quiz are related to the media and media literacy, and through answering them contestants can learn more about the media. Each question has a short explanation containing important and interesting facts. All participants, as well as other members of the local community, will expand their knowledge about media literacy while having fun. Contestants will win small prizes and receive a specially designed notebook.
ALBANIA
Albanian Center for Quality Journalism and Citizen Resilience
Project: F.A.C.T.S.: Fostering Awareness, Critical Thinking, and Skills in Media Literacy
The targeted intervention focuses on improving critical thinking, awareness and skills among journalism students, members of civil society and the general public. The main objectives include educating journalism students through a two-day workshop, and raising public and civil society awareness through informative videos, factsheets, analytical articles, podcasts and public debates. The project will empower students to identify and combat disinformation, while members of civil society and the general public will gain a deeper understanding and critical perspective on disinformation issues. The planned activities include the establishment of a working group, the development of workshops, the production and publication of multimedia content and the organization of public debates. The project aims to directly engage students, citizens and civil society, increasing their knowledge and skills in media education, with a comprehensive approach that fosters a more ethical and professional media environment.
“Res Publica” Center and the Albanian Media Council
Project: Promoting ethics and self-regulation in local media – Challenging disinformation
The project aims to foster media education and activism to counteract misinformation and encourage dialogue within civil society and journalists. It focuses on promoting ethics and self-regulation in local media to challenge misinformation. Targeting Shkodra and Vlora, as pilot areas, the project addresses the need for a healthy, independent media environment by enhancing the awareness and capabilities of local journalists, media managers, and civil society groups. By offering guidance on best practices for self-regulation, the project intends to build a culture of trust and integrity in media, essential for combating the spread of false information and fostering a more informed, engaged society. The ultimate goal is to strengthen media ethics and self-regulation, contributing to a resilient civic media landscape that supports democratic values.
Social Contract Institute
Project: Safer together
This initative aims to icreasing the resilience of citizens in targeted areas, against false information and hate speech. Through this project SCI aims to build sustainable capacity at community level in target areas to provide media literacy education to citizens; and to raise awareness and knowledge of citizens to understand the role of the media; to maintain a critical attitude towards the information they receive; to use reliable sources of information and to contribute to the elimination of hate speech. Through trainings, production and distribution of infographics, and programs on local radios, SCI will increase the capacity of residents in three municipalities (Elbasan, Librazh & Pogradec) to seek and consume information from reliable sources, and to contribute to the fight against disinformation and hate speech, thus fighting the incitement of religious radicalism and the escalation of distrust towards the secular values of Albanian society.
Albanian Institutes for Research and Center “Albanian Consumer”
Project: PPP Scan
In 2013, Albania passed the Law No. 125 “On concessions and public private partnership” which assigns the Ministry of Finance monitoring tasks. The Ministry of Finance’s last report dates back to 2021. In 2022, it announced its inability to carry out this process, creating a significant gap in publicly available information. A group of journalists and journalism students will be selected for their crucial role in monitoring concession contracts and public-private partnerships (PPPs), identifying violations, corruption, and the misuse of public funds. Through this work, they will transition from being mere reporters to becoming citizen watchdogs, actively defending the public interest. The active involvement of local and international experts in training and capacity-building through the analysis of concrete cases will cultivate a professional and bold core of journalists and students. This group will collaborate with other interest groups, setting the foundation for the creation of the Observatory of Public Contracts, inspired by international best practices.
NORTH MACEDONIA
Civil Tracks Bitola
Project: Youth Media Lab
The project aims to encourage young people to take an active role in the fight against fake news and disinformation, to strengthen their capacities for critical understanding of the media, to oppose to polarization and promote dialogue and sustainable practices of media activism. The target group are young people from youth organizations in Bitola, Novaci, Mogila, Krushevo and Resen, as well as students from primary and secondary schools in urban and rural areas. The project encompasses three capacity building trainings and a three-month mentorship program for ten young people, as well as the establishment of a Youth Media Laboratory. Twelve media literacy workshops with educational quizzes will be organized for 240 young people in the urban and rural areas of the municipalities involved, as well as a media literacy raise awareness campaign including promotion of the video course. The final event of the project is Youth Media Talk – a forum for media literacy of young people and professional journalists, open to all interested citizens.
Od stanica do granica
Project: My story – my media
The project focuses on workshops led by journalists, created for students from rural areas to master the basics of journalism and media literacy. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how media content is created, but also to create products that will be published on a website later. The Association will create a special category on the website for the content produced by students from Nov Dojran, Stojakovo, Negorci and Miravci.
Public Skopje
Project: Face to face binoculars – Media activism by creating stories that drive change
The project focuses on promoting media literacy and activism to counter polarization and encourage dialogue within civil society in Probishtip, Zletovo, and Kratovo, including their rural areas. Specific objectives include engaging youth, representatives of civil society organizations and initiatives in media and information literacy practices and supporting organizations in promoting gender representation and underrepresented groups in media reporting. Expected outcomes include improved knowledge among 100,000 citizens of North Macedonia about media roles and ethical reporting, enhanced capacities of at least three grassroots organizations, and the enhancement of competencies for 20 young individuals, including local journalists, CSO representatives, and influencers, enabling them to adopt and apply good journalistic practices in media activism.
SERBIA
Center for Investigative Journalism Krusevac
Project: Better media literacy among youth from rural areas and members of vulnerable groups
Through the implementation of a series of activities (small scale research, workshops in six schools in rural areas, organizing a debate, conducting training for young people, publishing and promoting content in the media and on social networks), the project will contribute to the promotion of media literacy, as well as the recognition of professional and responsible journalism among young people from rural and urban areas and members of vulnerable groups from the Rasina and Pomoravlje county. The project will be implemented in ten rural, two smaller urban areas (Ćićevac, Varvarin) and one larger urban area (Kruševac). Through the implementation of project activities, the capacities of CSOs for designing, managing and promoting media activism and media literacy projects will be improved. Gender equality, gender-sensitive language and better visibility of members of vulnerable groups will also be promoted.
Cluster of Creative Industries of Vojvodina
Project: Storylens
This project aims to empower young talents and media activists from minority groups in rural areas by providing them with the skills and knowledge to create documentary media content that addresses socio-cultural challenges. Through a series of educational workshops, hands-on training mentorship, and public debates, participants will gain the necessary skills to produce high-quality documentaries that raise awareness and promote understanding of these issues.
New Network Association
Project: Gender Equality and Climate Change
This project aims to address gender equality challenges in the context of climate change in Serbia. Through educational activities, it targets 15-20 students, journalists, and activists, enhancing their media literacy and ecological awareness. Key partners include universities, media organizations, and NGOs. The innovative approach involves interactive digital modules, virtual reality experiences, and online knowledge-sharing platforms. Additionally, community workshops and collaborations with local media aim to engage citizens directly. The project seeks to empower participants to effectively communicate information on the impact of climate change on women. Six video podcasts and a public debate featuring relevant stakeholders will further amplify awareness and discussions on the intersection of gender equality and climate issues.
Academic Inclusive Association
Project: Improving media presentation of people with disabilities
The project aims to strengthen the capacity of media actors to adopt a socially positive approach toward people with disabilities. Through a variety of educational and promotional activities, local CSOs, media professionals, and youth with disabilities will serve as leaders in promoting a positive portrayal of people with disabilities in the media. The project includes trainings for media professionals, CSOs, and individuals with disabilities to enhance media literacy and develop tools for reporting on people with disabilities. It also involves the creation of guidelines for affirmative and inclusive reporting on people with disabilities in the media. All activities will be supported by a campaign conducted via media outlets, as well as offline and online communications channels. The project envisions the expansion of the Network of Journalists for Inclusion and will engage and empower over 50 stakeholders to promote inclusive representation of people with disabilities within the media and civil society organizations.

The regional program “Our Media: A civil society action to generate media literacy and activism, counter polarisation and promote dialogue” is implemented with the financial support of the European Union by partner organizations SEENPM, Albanian Media Institute, Mediacentar Sarajevo, Press Council of Kosovo, Montenegrin Media Institute, Macedonian Institute for Media, Novi Sad School of Journalism, Peace Institute and Bianet.
This article was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of SEENPM and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.